Ridgewood manager reports freeze on two federal public-health grants; multiple capital purchases for water plant proposed

The Village of Ridgewood was notified last Friday that two federal public-health grants the village had relied on were suspended, Village Manager Keith told the council on April 2, putting roughly $170,000 in expected funding on hold and affecting two full‑time health department employees and more than 34 health programs.

Manager Keith said the suspension is tied to broader federal spending freezes. He referenced ongoing legal actions at the state level: New Jersey announced it would join a multistate lawsuit challenging the suspension of nearly $11 billion in public-health grants; the outcome of that litigation may determine whether the village regains the funds. "We are currently, in a holding pattern. We are not spending any of these dollars that have been allocated," Keith said, and he said the administration is coordinating with health‑department staff and the municipal civil‑service office about staffing implications.

The manager also highlighted the village's broader…